Love Heart – River Bend, Echuca

We hadn’t long set up camp at River Bend Caravan Park, about twenty kilometres out of Echuca, when I could see what a love filled place it is and I couldn’t help but admire Alan who so openly declared his love for Lynne.

The love heart of Alan and Lynne at River Bend Caravan Park on the Goulburn River near it's junction with the Murray, about twenty kilometres upstream from Echuca.

As I mused over the circumstances of the carving, obviously the work of a small chain saw, I wondered if Alan and Lynne were among those who frequented this former nudist camp under it’s previous management.

I pictured Alan and Lynne there in the bush, bare footed among the sticks, leaves, grasses, ants and whatever else might bring discomfort to the underside of their bare feet.

I saw them dappled with the sun and shadows of the river redgum bush covering the flood plain of the Goulburn River, not far above it’s junction with the Murray.

In their nakedness, this couple exuded their affection for each other and joint love of the great outdoors.

So Alan went to work with the chain saw in order to preserve something of the moment for all time to come and for all to appreciate.

Alan’s well toned, hairy and sweaty body glistened in the sun spots and reflected light of the shadows created by the redgum canopy of the flood plain of the Goulburn River, not far upstream from it’s junction with the Murray.

As he set to work with the artisan’s chain saw, Alan’s body was one with the tool, the art medium and the feeling, the emotion of the moment. First the text followed by the form of the love heart.

At the completion of the artistic statement, as the disruptive roar of the chain saw died away and the natural sounds of the bush once again ruled the peaceful environment, they were jointly filled with pride, satisfaction and thoughts of the future.

Alan was covered with redgum chips from the chain saw; itchy and difficult to remove. Lynne had picked up quite a few too.

I couldn’t help but wonder how it feels to be using a chain saw starkas, nothing even to protect your doodle from the saw chips. I reckon Alan may have felt pretty vulnerable and I reckon Lynne also may have felt some stress as she eyed the saw chain tearing out the wood and glanced at the most indefensible parts of her man.